“Regardless, that means the three Shifters with mates are the ones who will be doing the fighting.”
Not necessarily.
“What does that mean?”
Seeking a distraction, he scraped a hand over his jaw and found one when he noticed the harsh scratch of his stubble and realized he’d have to shave if he had any intention of kissing his mate in the near future—and he had every intention of doing that at some point in the next twenty minutes.
With that thought in mind, he gently deposited her back on her side of the bed, got to his feet, and started off toward the bathroom.
“I won’t kiss someone who’s shaving instead of answering my questions,” came the peeved retort, and he turned, shooting her a grin. As he processed the sight of her, he felt like he’d been kicked in the gut.
Jesus, she was beautiful.
She sat there like a siren and an angel combined. He’d never seen anyone with her potency, never known anything like it. And though she was his mate, and he was predisposed to think the sun rose and set on her, she seemed to glow with an innocence that a rape attack and a Claiming hadn’t penetrated.
“Stop looking at me like you want to devour me,” she said with a pout. “I remember that look on your face when you Claimed me. I didn’t have time to freak out, but you looked scary.”
“My bear took over,” he replied, instantly apologetic, enough so that he forgot about his shave and returned to the bed. “I would never dream of doing anything to hurt you, but my bear was at its limits. It wanted you badly, Mischa.”
Her lips twitched. “I didn’t tell you to not shave, did I?” she chided, pushing him off the bed again. “I just want answers too. Shave and talk.”
He rolled his eyes but made his way once more to the bathroom. Grabbing his portable electric shaver, he started to get to work and thought, Can you hear me? Or is the shaver or distance making it too hard to hear?
“No, I heard you okay,” she hollered out, loud enough for him to process.
You don’t understand how precious mates are and how they’re cherished, Mischa. No one in the Clan will expect us to fight when we’re mated. They’ll stand and take our place. And in return, if they win, they’ll move up the ranks and probably take a seat on the Council as a thank you. In fact, scratch that, if Mars agrees to go ahead with a plan like this, then I’d suggest we make that part of the boon—whoever wins the challenge gets to come onto the Council. He peered around the door to make sure she’d caught all that, and by the look of relief on her face, he knew she had. He smiled at her before returning to the task at hand. So, you see, there’s no need to worry. Mars will realize this plan makes sense, because I’ll make him realize it. Once it’s underway, then we can get back to what really matters. Us. When she didn’t holler anything at him, he looked around the door and saw that she’d lain back against the sheets. He sensed the lowering of her tension and was relieved by it.
Then, as he started to let contingency plans wash through his mind, he realized he’d have to learn Spanish—either that or another language Mischa didn’t know. A Shifter had to have some privacy, especially when it came to a past he had no intention of sharing.
***
“Where the fuck is Major?” Mars roared as he sank into the seat at the head of the Council table.
Mundo shrugged. “Dunno.”
“Helpful, jackass,” Kiko told him, rolling his eyes at the younger Shifter’s idiotic answer.
“What?” he retorted. “He asked, I told him what I know. Can’t help it if I know shit.”
“That’s always been your problem, Mundo,” Kiko said with a chuckle, flinging off the bird Mundo flipped his way with a wink.
Mundo could be a dick. He could be stupid. But most of that came down to the fact he was young. Barely in his fifties, Mundo was like a kid to most of the bears in the Clan. Only the fact everyone liked him made his presence on the Council in any way acceptable. Mars had put men he trusted at his side on the Council table, and that meant some choices were popular and others weren’t.
Case in point—Jefferson’s old Council cronies. Only Mars had survived that particular cull, going from second in command to head of the table.
“Why is it like trying to chase sand in the sea when I need to speak to Major?”
Kiko snickered. “Look who’s getting poetic. Having a writer for a mate is really improving your diction, Mars.”
The Prez glowered at him, but Kiko wasn’t frightened. Mars had saved his ass way too many times to be a threat, and the same went in reverse. Kiko and Mars had always had each other’s backs. No amount of shit talking was going to change that.
“Fuck off, Kiko. I need your sarcasm like I need a hole in my head.” Mars let out a growl that had Kiko’s brows lifting. Someone’s Bear was close to the surface.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Mundo chuckled. “Yeah, tell that to my side of the wall. Annette and Mars had a banging fight this morning, the key being banging.”
Kiko blinked. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means, Christie woke up bitching because they were arguing while their headboard was slamming into the wall. Some of us have pregnant mates, I’ll have you know. Mates who need to sleep, not be woken up by someone else fucking at five in the goddamn morning.”
Mars was too old to blush, but he rubbed at the back of his neck, a sheepish cast to his expression. “Sorry if we disturbed you.”
Mundo shrugged. “Didn’t bother me. Used to that kind of shit. Christie, on the other hand, isn’t. It’s a bitch getting her to stay here anyway. You fucking at all hours of the goddamn morning isn’t helping my case.” Christie had a place in the city, and though Mundo had agreed to spend equal parts there and here at the clubhouse, they’d yet to leave for Houston proper.
“I’m surprised you don’t want her out of here,” Kiko commented, trying to tread carefully but also curious as to why Mundo was keen to stick around.
“I got shot on the street, Kiko. Houston isn’t safe. Neither’s the clubhouse, but even the fuckers who are causing dissent respect mates. At least, I hope they do.”
Both he and Mars grunted, taking it as a given too. Mates were revered. They were gifts from the Goddesses. To mess with a mate was like asking the Goddesses to fuck you over, and no bastard wanted them meddling in their lives.
The creatures who gifted mates could also take them away.
No matter how old you got, no matter how bitter and resentful, the hope never died that your mate would find you. Doing anything to hinder that union was like asking for someone to torture you. Slowly.
It just didn’t happen.
“She has to hate being stuck here. It’s not like with Annette; she doesn’t mind being at the clubhouse. She thinks it’s less boring than her apartment. Plus, she can write as well here as anywhere else.”
Mundo grimaced. “She’s bored off her trolley, but the morning sickness is really knocking her out. She wants to go back to work, but even if she could deal with the morning sickness, how could she go back to work in the jails?” He scowled down at the scarred Council table. “I mean, if one gang has found a hole in the system, a hole that involves using her to pass messages around like she was a fucking postman, then what’s to stop another? I mean, she gets that. It freaks her out, but she understands. She just doesn’t understand why she can’t work private practice either.”
“Why don’t you tell her then?” Kiko asked, stunned that Mundo hadn’t spoken to his mate about the situation in the Clan. Jesus, this was why young males didn’t deserve mates. Honesty was the only way to do anything where mates were concerned. Mundo had obviously yet to learn that particularly painful lesson.
“How can I?” He rubbed his jaw. “I mean, it sounds shitty, but she was all for me leaving the Clan—almost made me choose between her and it—but the only thing that saved my ass was the fact it was her job that put her in danger, not the MC. If I tell her she can’t have
a normal life because the MC is close to war, what the fuck is that going to do? She’s going to want to move back to her apartment, and I can’t guarantee her safety there.”
“There’s no guarantee here,” Mars said sadly. “It’s a fucked up time.”
“I know. But like I said, my brothers respect the mate bond. Motherfucking gangbangers don’t respect shit.” Mundo slammed his fist into the table. “I just want her safe. I want the cub safe. Here, I feel like that’s possible. Out there, I don’t know. She’s vulnerable, man, even in private practice. What if our enemies decide to do what the Lobos did, but this time they get to me, to us, through her?” He shook his head. “I’m sure Martinez can afford the dental insurance for private practice… I can’t risk it. Can’t risk her.”
“We need to sort this shit out, Mars,” Kiko said on a sigh. He could empathize with Mundo but was relieved as hell Mischa had no place to go outside of the compound before he’d Claimed her.
Then, he felt guilty because she had no life outside of these walls, and for a young woman, that wasn’t healthy.
Neither was being shot thanks to the MC’s enemies, but still…
“I know we do, Kiko. Jesus. It’s not like it hasn’t been a pressing matter at the Council table. We’ve been trying to hash this out for days now.”
“I was thinking,” he started, seeing this could be the in that he needed. “What about challenges?”
Mars frowned. “We discussed that the first day. Jefferson’s allies are too popular to quell like that.”
“No, you’re right, but we barely glanced over the idea. I think it’s worth merit. Look, it’s never been a popular choice that you cleared out the old Council and replaced them with new faces, has it?”
“Like I was going to have people who concurred with Jefferson’s shitty business dealings? You forget, I was in that Council, Kiko. I saw who really agreed and who didn’t. Last thing I needed was those bastards at my back. I don’t trust them at my front, never mind guarding me.”
“I know, and I don’t dispute that, but still, it wasn’t popular, was it?”
“No,” Mars conceded, “but it’s tough shit. I wanted people I can trust.”
“I know, and I figure if we spread the word to the people who don’t want Jefferson’s guys to have power again, maybe someone will take the challenge in our place. We have mates; we can’t put their lives in jeopardy. Like Mundo says, our brothers respect the mate bond, if nothing else.”
“What do they get if they win the challenges for us?” Mundo asked, blinking as he shot looks between the both of them.
Kiko jerked a shoulder. “I was thinking a seat on the Council. It’s the only incentive worth shit. They could die for us, Mars. They’re putting their lives on the line so we don’t have to.”
Mars frowned. “But like I said, that won’t stop the rot from spreading.”
“No, but it kills it at the source. And if we actually select people to fight for us, instead of just seeing who volunteers, we could get popular choices for the Council. Then, who knows? Maybe we can find a compromise.”
Mars eyed him. “You Claimed her, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?” Kiko snapped, taken aback at the off-topic question.
He snorted. “Don’t bullshit me. You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re far too rational for her to still be unclaimed.”
“What kind of logic is that?” Kiko glowered at him but conceded with a grumbled, “But yeah, we’re bound now.”
Mundo grinned. “Congratulations, dude.”
“Fucking awesome feeling, right?” Mars’s smile was wistful.
Kiko smiled at both his brothers. “Nothing better.”
Mars drummed his fingers against the table. “I think it’s better to ask certain brothers rather than have them volunteer. But who do you think would be a good choice to fight in our stead? I mean, we could get other Council members to fight for us, but I reckon you’re right. Opening up the Cabinet with fresh blood might appease some of the brothers who aren’t happy with the way the MC is going.”
Kiko nodded. “I agree. I think that’s key. Having a more balanced Council will only be for the good. Don’t forget, the fact the three of us are mated is a cause for celebration but also for jealousy. They’re not going to understand our point of view, and they’re going to think we don’t understand theirs now that we’re mated.”
Mundo sat back, and the squeak of from his chair echoed around the room. It jerked both Mars and Kiko’s attention to him. “Get Graver to do one of the challenges.”
Mars snorted. “Graver’s a newbie.”
“Fuck that, so am I.” Mundo pointed a finger at Mars. “Don’t forget who his family is.”
Kiko grimaced. “Cub has a point. The Gravers have always been popular.”
Mundo shot him another bird, which he ignored.
Mars rubbed his jaw again. “He’s young. With Mundo in position, another almost-cub isn’t going to be helpful for resolving Council matters.”
“We’re not handing them a shitload of power here, Mars,” Kiko argued. “You know that’s not how politics work. Graver’s brothers died to protect the MC, one of them on a job for Jefferson. You know he’s going to want to stop Jefferson’s allies from getting in. Plus, his mother wouldn’t be able to stand it if another of her cubs was lost. He’ll want a peaceful MC too, just for her sake.”
Mars pondered that a second, then said, “We can only ask. He’s young, but his bear is a mean SOB. In a challenge, with adrenaline all over the fucking place, I could see him overpowering a more experienced fighter. And I don’t think it’s ideal, but he is popular. Who else?”
“Justiss,” Kiko threw down. He’d been thinking about J for a while, and knew it was a risky choice but somehow solid too.
Mars winced. “You want that crazy bastard on the Council? How will he be a popular choice? No one fucking talks to him!”
Kiko rolled his eyes. “Why the fuck is he crazy, Mars? I tell you why, because he’s been spouting the same shit we want for two decades, maybe more. Who better to get us on the straight and narrow then the dude who’s been wanting this for far longer than we have?”
The Prez’s spine straightened. “Shit. He has, hasn’t he?”
Kiko grunted. “Yeah. He was pitching that idea for a brewery a good five years ago, and that’s a decent way for us to go straight, Mars. It’s not a bad idea. Plus, there was that clothing line he suggested, but Jefferson called him out on it, made him look like he was a freak or some shit. I think Justiss has a big enough grudge against the old Prez to want to fight, plus, he’s going to want to prove he’s not what Jefferson said he was. If he made it onto the Council, he’d have some solid ideas. He has a fucking MBA, man. We could use that kind of experience if we’re looking at diversifying into more mainstream shit.”
Mars chuckled. “Said like a businessman.”
Kiko just rolled his eyes. “I never said I was eloquent.”
“You swallowed a dictionary too?” Mundo inserted, snickering at the pair of them.
Mars ignored him, staying silent a second. “He wouldn’t be a popular choice, but he could take anyone in a fight. His Bear always was a strong motherfucker. Plus, if he cut out the rot, brothers might stop believing what Jefferson had to say about him.” He stared straight ahead a second, peering at the opposite wall which had three holes in it—punch holes, from ex Council members who had shoved their fists through the drywall. “What about Harvey for the last challenge?”
Kiko nodded. “Not a bad choice. He’s popular—got a lot of friends. Strong bear. Smart. Bit of a risk taker on some of the jobs I’ve been on with him. Adrenaline junkie.”
KIKO (MC Bear Mates Book 3) Page 11